Valve construction



D. E. HARRIS Filed Dec. 19, 1950 I I) //8- 2 g 49 48 7 @1 f 1 T A 5 i 24 2 mmvroze. fiu/ly/ll 5 Hang BY I I z ATTbRA ES Patented Oct. 7, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE} f I vALvE oonsmocrrou "Dwight Harris,Stamford, Conn.,'assi'gnor to Q The Skinner-Chuck Company, Norwalk,Conm,

a corporation of Connecticut Application December 19,1950, Serial No.291,620

2 claims. (01 137419) It is the general object of the present inventionto provide a, three-way valve of simple construction, low cost, highefiiciency, long'life and compact structure. 1

The full nature of the invention, together with all of its objects andadvantages, will best be understood by reference to the followingdescription of one illustrative embodiment thereof which is showngraphically in the annexed drawing in which: I

The Fig. 1 is a cross se'ctionalview axially through a valve ofgenerally cylindrical configuration;

While the Fig. -'2 is a cross sectional view, as in a radial plane, suchas along the line 2*2 of the Fig. 1. I

Referring to the Fig. l, the principal operating elements of the valveare'positioned in or on a base I!) which is preferably of magnetizablemetal and which may be considered as having agenerally cylindricalconfiguration, the Fig. 1 being viewed as though taken along a-planethrough the axis of the cylindrical configuration. To receive thevarious operating elements, there is formed in the base l and*c'oaxially with its axis, a cylindrical recess having levels or recesssections l2, iflgl l and I5 of different diameters for the reception ofthe valve elements of different diameters hereinafter indicated. Withinthe section l5, there is positioned a metallic cylindrical member I 6having an axialchannel therethrough terminating in a first valve seatI1. Within the section I3, there is positioned a metallic block l8 whichsnugly fits the walls of the section I3 of recess l. I The end surfacesof block iii are recessed as shown. It will be noted that the block itrests on an annular shelf |9 between the recess sections I3 and I4 andby that means it is so spaced from the bottom end wall of the'recess H,i. e., from the wall surrounding valve seat H, as to define acylindrical valve chamber 26 between the lower end wall'of the block itand the lower end wall of therecess H, i. e., the lower end wall ofrecesssection M. In the lower end wall of the block |8 there is formed asecond valve seat 2| which is the termination of a conduit tobedes'cribed below.

Within the valve chamber 20, there is mounted for reciprocatorymovementa disc-like valve head 22 which may be caused selec'tably to engageeither the valve seat I? or the valve seat 2| while disengaging theother and which is provided with a resilient central core-like portion23 of rubber or like resilientmaterial-to serve as the sealing means forthe ports of valve seats I! and 2| when the valve head is in engagementwith gagement with second seat 2|.

either of those seats. Thevalve head 22 is mounted on a suitableresilient means such as a spiral spring 24 which is in engagement with"the lower end wall of the recess section l4 and with the annular collaror flange shown on the upper periphery of the valve head 22. This springmeans is arranged to bias the valve head toward one .or the other of thevalve seats I? and 2| depending upon the way in which the valve isoperated. For purposes of illustration the spring may be consideredasunder compression so as to bias the valve head toward en- It will beobserved that the structure thus far described includes threefunctioning conduits as follows: A first conduit 25 communicates withthe outside of the base |0 and with the valve chamber 20. A secondconduit 26 communicates similarly with the outside of the base I0 andwith the valvechamber 20, but through the valve seat I! so that theconduit 26 may be blocked when the valve head 22 engages the seat IT. Athird conduit is defined by both the base Hi and the block l8, asfollows. Within the block l8 are contiguous conduit sections 2'! and 28,the lower end of conduit 21 terminating in the port of the valve seat2|. The conduit 28 is generally radial (conduit 21 axial) and opens intothe cylindrical surface of the block l8 at such a position that it maycommunicate with an annular chamber or conduit section 29 in the natureof an annular recess in the side walls of the recess section It. Afurther conduit section 30 communicates with the outside of the base I0and the conduit section 29. It will, be understood therefore, that thesections 21, 28, 29 and 30 constitute a continuous toward one or theother of the valve seats I! and 2 In order that itmay be moved againstthis biasing force to cause it to engage the other valve seat, thefollowing means are provided.

Axially slidable in the cylindrical holes 3| (five shown in Fig. 2)extending between the end faces of block l8 are one or more cylindricalconnecting rods 32 (three shown) which may engage the valve head 22 forpurposes of moving it against the biasing force of .thespring 24. vTheserods may be actuated by any'suitablemeans, preferably the spring 35 tobe described.

For governing the movement of the rods 32 and head 22 by springs 24 and36, there is provided an electromagnet shown as comprising a coil 33energizable by any suitable source of current (not shown) through theterminal leads 34. Within the coil 33, is provided a magnetic plunger 35normally biased downwardly by a spring 36 which is under compressionbetween the plunger 35'and the fixedmagnetic plug 31. It may beconsidered that the plunger 35 normally presses downwardly on theconnecting rods 32 to, bias the valve head 22 into contact with thelower valve seat H. ..To that end, of course, the spring 36 must'be suchthat it is stronger than the.spiralwspringzflwin order to overcome theupward.biasingi'forceziof;

has 1 previously been affixed the nonmagnetic ;sleeve 39 with theplug31.;in its upper. end. -The vplug preferably: includes the shadingming.

so'that the valve may be operated by alternating current if desired.ltrwill thus.beseenvthat'the bushing 38, the sleeve-39and.the,plug:31:may

'be welded together as asealed-unit.for assembly of the valve. 'A:topplate4l of :magnetic material surrounds plug 3'I.and.is held-thereon .bythe nut 42. Anannular-collar 43.:I'EStiI1Q'iO1'l-Q.

-.shelf 43A on base ill-and: a cylindricalcoil casing 44 of magneticmaterial resting 'on-collars43 are held between the plate4l.and.the.base H)' by nut 42 and bushing 38. -Aisuitable. inlet housing45 for the leads 34'may:be-,.provided in the: easing 44.

'..To facilitate the assembly. of the block-l 8.--within the recess ll,there are provided two; annular recesses 46 in the'wallv of the. recesssection; l3 and into each of these. there is introduceda rin 41 ofrubber or like resilient materialand preferably having a circularcrosssection. .When the block 18 is introduced intothe recess section-l3,

. it may be pushed downwardly-to the position shown in Fig. l inwhichcasentherings" will facilitate theinsertionand alsorserve .to. seal. thejuncture betweenthewallsof the recess and .the walls of the. block Hi.In the. upper. surface of the block 18- there may be provideda. threadedhole 48 into which a suitablefthreaded tool may be inserted tofacilitate the removal of the block 18 when disassembling the valve.

The valve structure thus shown may be quickly and easily assembledin'zthe following manner.

. Starting with the base [0, the member I6 is inserted, the valve. head22 and itsspringl24 are added, thereafter. the block |8 is pushed intothe recess section 13 with theconduitsectiorrlw in alignment with the.conduitsection' 29,. and'jthe rods 32inserted into theproper holes 3 I.Thereafter the sealed welded unit comprising the bushing. 38, .thesleeve. 39 and the plug 3'I,with the plunger 35 andspring 36,v therein,is positioned on top of the block with the sleeve 39. resting on theupper edge of .the'block as shown andlthe bushing 38 screwed firmly intothe base ID, with a suitable sealing washer 49 interposed. .Thereafterthe casing 44' is added'with the collar'43; the plate 4| is slipped onvand the whole rigidly secured together by the nut 43 which because of.the welding of the sleeve. 39 .to. theplug Hand ,to the bushing 38permits the .plate 41 and the casing 44 to be held firmly betweenthe'nut 42 and the collar 43.

As an illustrative use of the valve it might be considered that theconduit 26 is a normally closed port to which a source of fluid pressureis supplied. The conduit 25 may be considered as a common port to whicha suitable fluid power driven means is connected such as a servomotor orhydraulic piston arrangement. The conduit 30 may be considered anormally open portfforithwexhaust of the fluid from the common port.-'-It will beunderstood then that upon energization of the electromagnetthe plunger 35 will be pulled upward to permit the springs 24...and.36.to raise valve head 22 to open the seat '11 andblock the seat2|. Thereupon fluid under 11' pressure. mayzflow through the conduit 2 6through l5wttheivalve-zseatc.Iland chamber and into the ':-oonduit" toenergize the servomotor or hydraulic.pistonorwhatever equivalent meansis being operated. When the electromagnet is deene'rgi'zed, the spring36 will push the plunger 35 and the connecting; rods 32 downward to pushtin-turn the-valve: head 22 against spring 24 to close..the 'valveseat:I1, thus opening the valve ..-seatz2 lnwhile blocking the valve seat I1.Thereupon the fluid under pressure in the servo mech- 25 r anism'orthelike may flow back through the conduit 25rand chamberr20 and thencethrough the ..conduit comprisingr conduit sections 21, 28, 29 and'30toanexhaust.

-In this arrangement the valve is considered 30 as "normally closed. Itwill be appreciated that -.the valve. may-alsobe operated as a normally-open.-valve. :Thismaytbe accomplished by interchanging the attachmentsto the conduits 2B and, i.ae.,-.;by .making the conduit 30 the port -toWhich'the source. of fluid .under pressure is at tached and by using theconduit 26 as the exhaust. re-adjustment of they spring pressuresmay-also bennecessary. In thatcase, upon energization/ofthegelectromagnet, the supply of 40 fluid under pressure to the conduit 25ceases and theexhaustthrough conduit 26 is permitted 'to take place. iIt :isto be understood that other modifications may be made. Forexample, if it be desired that the-electromagnet operates such that rits plungermoves downwardly upon energization ".of :the. coil; suitablerearrangements of the bias directions;of.the-springs and theirattachments ,to;.the various parts may be made.

\"What'is claimedsis: 1.-A'valve mechanism'comprising a base hav-.ing-ia:cylindrical-. recess terminating in one surface thereof andhaving sections of different diametersuchthat anannular shelf is defined-in the-'wallmf the recess, .a cylindrical block snugly fittingthecylindrical walls of said recess and! resting'on the shelf so that acylindrical valve chambernis defined between the bottom vuwalls,ofsaid'. recess and block, annular recesses :rin the 'wall. of.thescylindrical recess and resilient sea1 ,ng:-1 ir;1gs-in the-annularrecesses sealing the juncture ofwtheecylindrical recess and block, afirst conduitlin said base between the outside of said. baseandsaidvalve chamber, a first valve seat in the bottom of said. recess,a second con- ;duit.in said.,base,:between the outside of said base; andsaid-valve chamber through said first valve seat,.. a: second valve seatin the lower wall of. said. block,,.an.arinular recesschamber in thewall.of.,said,cy1indrical recess and channels in .saidblo'ck..'aridflbase communicating with said '70 annular recess chamber,said annular recess the other, spring means biasing said valve headtoward engagement with one of said valve seats, and means for movingsaid valve head toward engagement with the other of said seats againstthe biasing force of said biasing means comprising slidable connectingrod means extending through and between the end faces of said block andcontacting said valve head-all whereby said valve head may be selectablyengaged with said first valve seat while disengaging said second valveseat to permit fluid flow between said first and third conduit throughsaid valve chamber and with said second valve seat while disengagingsaid first valve seat to permit fluid flow between said first and secondconduits through said valve chamber.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a base having a cylindrical recessterminating in one surface thereof and having sections of differentdiameter decreasing in the inward direction such that an annular shelfis defined in the wall of the recess, a cylindrical slidably removableblock snugly fitting the cylindrical walls of said recess and resting onthe shelf so that a cylindrical valve chamber is defined between thebottom walls of said recess and block, annular recesses in the wall ofthe cylindrical recess adjacent the block and resilient sealing rings inthe annular recesses sealing the juncture of the cylindrical recess andblock, a first conduit in said base between the outside of said base andsaid valve chamber, a first valve seat in the bottom of said recess, asecond conduit in said base between the outside of said base and saidvalve chamber through said first'valve seat, a second valve seat in thelower wall of said block, an annular recess chamber in the wall of saidcylindrical recess adjacent the block and channels in said block andbase communicating with said annular recess chamber, said annular recesschamber and channels defining a third conduit between said second valveseat and the outside of said base, a valve head in said valve chambermovable axially thereof so as to engage selectably one of said valveseats while disengaging the other, spring means biasing said valve headtoward engagement with one of said valve seats, and means for movingsaid valve head toward engagement with the other of said seats againstthe biasing force of said biasing means comprising slidable connectingrod means extending through and between the end faces of said block andcontacting said valve head, and an electromagnet on the opposite side ofsaid block from said valve chamber for actuating the connecting rodmeans--all whereby said valve head may be selectably engaged with saidfirst valve seat while disengaging said second valve seat to permitfiuid flow between said first and third conduit through said valvechamber and with said second valve seat while disengaging said firstvalve seat to permit fluid flow between said first and second conduitsthrough said valve chamber.

DWIGHT E. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

